School Committee discusses district accountability data, re-tables curriculum opt-out procedure

By Isabella Lapriore

The School Committee reviewed state-required standardized test accountability findings from both high school and non-high school data at its meeting on Oct. 8.

The Massachusetts Accountability System, which is used to identify low-performing schools and student groups through the use of weighted average data, identified the district in the 53rd percentile compared to the 47th in 2024.

Some 35% of the score corresponds to Waltham High School and 65% comes from elementary and middle schools.

The system assigns between zero and four points to various categories based on targets created by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in 2024.

Waltham’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, Shannon Conley, said the findings showed that the district is improving, as it moved closer to reaching its 54 percentile goal.

“Overall, we have a lot to celebrate,” Conley said. “We’ve made substantial progress toward our target.”

The district also made improvements in chronic absenteeism and language proficiency as well as consistent growth in English language arts and math for students between third and eighth grade.

DESE named Plympton Elementary School one of 63 schools of recognition in the state for its achievement in reaching or exceeding pre-pandemic test results.

Conley recognized Plympton principal, Adrienne Norris, and the school’s faculty, staff, caregivers and students for their hard work.

“You are who make Plympton Elementary move from ordinary to extraordinary,” Conley said.

Not all the news was positive, however: Waltham High School reported declines across all subjects.

Students received lower scores in English language arts, math and science testing.

Conley said the district plans to address problem areas – including WHS achievement and elementary math performance – with one-year school improvement plans.

“We know, based on all this information presented here tonight, we have some excellent promising practices occurring right here in Waltham,” said Conley.

Opt-out policy re-tabled

In other action, the School Committee voted unanimously to re-table the proposed language update to the Waltham Public Schools handbook giving caregivers the ability to opt students out of curriculum with reference to LGBTQ+ identities.

Committee member Edmund Tarallo, seconded by Liz AlJammal, called a motion to re-table, citing attendance as the reason to postpone the decision.

At its Sept. 17 meeting, the committee tabled the matter at its second reading after outlining the procedure the policy would follow.

WPS equity team first meeting

Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa shared details about the WPS equity team’s first executive meeting.

The executive team is composed of four WPS administrators, eight staff members, eight parents and guardians, and two WHS students.

The team, according to Mendonsa, is prioritizing three categories: instruction and the student experience, adult learning and development, and operations and resources.

The Leadership Academy, an organization that partnered with WPS on its equity audit earlier this year, facilitated the meeting.

Additionally, the School Committee

• Listened to Waltham High School SAT, college fair, musical and homecoming updates from senior Anabel Rutledge.

• Received a donation from Stan and Lenie Bloomenthal of equipment valued at $12,000 for the WHS career and technical education HVACR program.

• Received a donation of $1,300 from Watertown Savings Bank to Whittemore Elementary School.

• Heard updates from the Stanley Elementary School and McDevitt Middle School improvement plans based on student learning goals, professional practice goals and student engagement or family and community engagement goals.

• Unanimously approved the 2026 School Committee meeting schedule as Jan. 7, 21, Feb. 4, 25, Mar. 4, 18, Apr. 8, 15, May 6, 20, Jun. 3, 17, Sept. 2, 16, Oct. 7, 21, Nov. 4, 18, Dec. 2, 16. Meeting dates for July and August are yet to be determined.